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"Perhaps," Alassëa replied; and though her answer was neutral, her tone was quite hopeful. "I would like very much to see Aethos's home. From the way he describes it, it must be a wonderful place! And yet ... I hope also to find my father, wherever he might be, and after that ... I don't know if I would stay with him, or if I would continue with all of you."

She would after all not want to leave her father again right away, after reuniting after more than forty years.

Alassëa smiled. "I would like that, too," she said softly.

Truth be told, she didn't really feel as if she belonged here anymore - not as if she ever had, to be fair, but she was even more different now than she had used to be.

"Besides," she added with a grin, "if you would leave me behind, who would teach you to use a staff?"

She took a playful (and mostly gentle) swing at Miyuki's backside with her staff.

Alassëa's face lit up with a bright smile, and she set her staff down on the edge of the fountain so that her hand was free. She reached out towards Miyuki, searching for her hands so that she could grasp it, and she had to feel around a bit - first getting Miyuki's arm, and feeling her way down to her hands - before she gave the girl's hand a light squeeze.

"I like that I can teach you," she said warmly, sincerely. "It makes me feel that I am useful ... that I am not just a ... a ..."

She was trying to say charity case, but she couldn't think of the word yet. Her speech had come a long way, to be sure, but there were still many gaps in it.

"Yes, because everyone feels sorry for me," Alassëa nodded. "It makes me feel that I do not have to be pitied. It makes me feel better like that."

She looked up suddenly, turning her head so that one ear was pointed in the direction of the inn. "Do I hear your parents coming?" she asked Miyuki suddenly.

Sure enough, Earendil and Lin were just coming out of the door of the inn, with Andarien with them.

Earendil laughed at the way Miyuki greeted them. "Come on, it's only been a few minutes," he chuckled.

"Mi!" Andarien squealed, clapping his hands and then holding his hands out to Miyuki.

Earendil grinned. "So did you keep yourself busy while you were waiting for us?"

"Ah, I see," Earendil smiled. He looked up and saw Alassëa still sitting on the edge of the fountain, her face once more turned towards the sun, one hand dipping into the water. He looked back down at Miyuki. "She looks a bit lonesome there by herself," he said, "would you like to ask her if she would like to come with us today?"

They hadn't really spent much time with her yet, other than Miyuki's lessons, and he was curious to know how the previous day had gone for her.

Alassëa smiled at Miyuki. "I would like that very much," she agreed cheerfully. She grasped her staff once more and dried her other hand on her shirt. "I don't know how long Aethos will be, but it will be nice to spend time with other people as well."

She tapped her staff a few times on the ground as if trying to make sure of the feel of it, then held out one hand. "May I put my hand on your shoulder?" she asked. "That way I can stay with you more easily."